2021-10-31-ITIF-在生物制药领域保持竞争力_美国必须从其半导体错误中吸取教训（英）_60页_1mb

Going, Going, Gone? Retaining U.S. Biopharmaceutical Leadership

Key Points

The U.S. has a history of losing leadership in high-tech industries due to policy failures, similar to its semiconductor decline. Key lessons from semiconductors highlight the dangers of foreign subsidies, weak intellectual property protections, and underinvestment in domestic production, which also threaten the biopharmaceutical industry today.

Semiconductors Decline

• Shared Pattern with Biopharma: U.S. lost leadership in both industries due to foreign competition, inadequate policy support, and erosion of innovation capabilities.
• Policy Failures: Inadequate federal R&D funding, foreign subsidies (especially from China), and lack of tax incentives for domestic production contributed to the decline.
• Recovery in Semiconductors: Strategic investments (e.g., CHIPS Act) helped regain some ground, but sustained efforts were needed.

Biopharmaceutical Industry

• Challenges: Production has shifted overseas, partly due to lower costs, weaker IP protections, and drug price controls. U.S.-based manufacturing capacity for key drug ingredients has significantly decreased.
• Policy Issues: Weakening IP protections and price controls risk further reducing innovation and investment in biopharma, similar to what happened with Europe’s industry.
• Biopharma Decline: Unlike semiconductors, U.S. hasn’t yet lost innovation leadership in biopharma, but domestic production risks could lead to reduced competitiveness over the next two decades.

Policy Recommendations

• Strengthen IP Protections: Reverse the erosion of IP rights that undermine innovation.
• Increase R&D Funding: Restore NIH funding to pre-2003 levels and expand incentives for pharmaceutical R&D.
• Boost Domestic Manufacturing: Establish tax incentives and subsidies to encourage U.S.-based biopharma production.
• Resist Drug Price Controls: Avoid policies that could diminish investments and innovation, as seen in Europe.

In essence, U.S. leadership in both semiconductors and biopharmaceuticals depends on proactive policies supporting innovation and production. Failure to learn from past mistakes risks further erosion in these critical industries.